Characterization of the osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells from human periodontal ligament based on cell surface markers

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated therapy has been shown to be clinically effective in regenerating tissue defects. For improved regenerative therapy, it is critical to isolate homogenous populations of MSCs with high capacity to differentiate into appropriate tissues. The utilization of stem cell surface antigens provides a means to identify MSCs from various tissues. However, few surface markers that consistently isolate highly regenerative MSCs have been validated, making it challenging for routine clinical applications and making it all the more imperative to identify reliable surface markers. In this study, we used three surface marker combinations: CD51/CD140α, CD271, and STRO-1/CD146 for the isolation of homogenous populations of dental mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) from heterogeneous periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis revealed that 24% of PDLCs were CD51+/CD140α+, 0.8% were CD271+, and 2.4% were STRO-1+/CD146+. Sorted cell populations were further assessed for their multipotent properties by inducing osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. All three subsets of isolated DMSCs exhibited differentiation capacity into osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages but with varying degrees. CD271+ DMSCs demonstrated the greatest osteogenic potential with strong induction of osteogenic markers such as DLX5, RUNX2, and BGLAP. Our study provides evidence that surface marker combinations used in this study are sufficient markers for the isolation of DMSCs from PDLCs. These results provide important insight into using specific surface markers for identifying homogenous populations of DMSCs for their improved utilization in regenerative medicine. Dental stem cells with the greatest potential for regenerating bone and cartilage can be identified by three proteins on the cell surface. Christine Hong and co-workers at the University of California Los Angeles investigated stem cells purified from the ligaments that attach teeth to the jaw bone. This tissue can be readily obtained from extracted teeth. It offers a convenient source of stem cells that have previously been shown to regenerate bone, the surface layer of tooth root, and the ligament itself. Hong’s team found that human stem cells obtained in this way vary significantly in their regenerative capacity and therefore therapeutic potential. They identified the combination of surface proteins that marks out the best cells for repairing bone and cartilage. This will assist the isolation of uniform preparations of these cells for regenerative therapy.